Manchester United's Patrice Evra, right, walks off after Liverpool's Luis Suarez refuses to shake his hand after Saturday's match. It was Suarez's first match after a suspension for racial abuse of Evra.

By:Steve DouglasAssociated Press, Published on Sat Feb 11 2012

LONDON—Luis Suarez’s refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United’s 2-1 win over fierce rival Liverpool that lifted the reigning champions to the top of the Premier League on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney scored twice for the second straight match to guide United to victory at Old Trafford, but all the focus was on the pre-match handshake that never happened, inflaming tensions between England’s two most successful clubs and reviving a racism row that refuses to go away.

Starting his first match since serving an eight-game ban for racially abusing Evra during a league match at Anfield on Oct. 15, Suarez withdrew his hand as the France defender put forward his in the traditional ritual before kickoff.

“He is a disgrace to Liverpool Football Club,” United manager Alex Ferguson. “He shouldn’t be able to play for Liverpool again.”

Police and stewards reportedly had to intervene as players from both teams clashed outside the dressing rooms at halftime after Evra chased Suarez down the tunnel.

Evra then appeared to attempt to provoke Suarez with exuberant post-match celebrations on the pitch in front of the Uruguay striker, also forcing police officers to intervene.

Amid the mayhem, United managed to take an overnight lead in the standings, piling the pressure on Manchester City ahead of its trip to Aston Villa on Sunday.

The spat between Suarez and Evra, which has been rumbling for nearly four months, is set to run and run — much to the disgust of United defender Rio Ferdinand, who refused to shake the hand of Suarez after seeing the Uruguay striker’s snub of Evra.

Evra attempted to pull back the arm of Suarez as the Uruguayan moved to shake hands with goalkeeper David De Gea, who was next in the United line. Suarez refused to turn back.

“It could have been resolved between the two players today. After this, it’s not great,” Ferdinand said.

Players from both teams maintained their composure in a hostile atmosphere during the game, with United much the stronger of the two northwest sides.

After dominating the first half, it needed a quickfire double from Rooney — in the 47th and 50th minutes — to put United in front.

Suarez pounced on a mistake by Ferdinand to prod home and reduce the deficit in the 80th but United held on, allowing Evra his moment of revelry in front of the home fans and Suarez.

“Patrice apparently celebrated in front of Suarez. That is understandable,” Ferguson said.

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